CHURCH ROCK, N.M. – Members of the Navajo Nation Council gathered with Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise officials on Friday, as the enterprise presented a check in the amount of $10 million to the Navajo Nation to be placed in the Gaming Distribution Fund – the largest financial contribution made by the enterprise to the fund.

Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise board of directors chair Quincy Natay, presented the check on behalf of the enterprise to the 23rd Navajo Nation Council and the President during a ceremony held at Fire Rock Navajo Casino.

Budget and Finance Committee chair Council Delegate Seth Damon (Bááháálí, Chichiltah, Manuelito, Tsé Lichíí’, Rock Springs, Tsayatoh), said the contribution signifies the Gaming Enterprise’s growing success in terms of their financial stability and their willingness to give back to local Navajo communities. He also thanked his Council colleagues for supporting the enterprise’s various initiatives and also extended his appreciation to the gaming board and enterprise officials.

The Navajo Nation Council created the Gaming Revenues Fund Management Plan, which states that the distribution policy will allocate gaming revenues to chapters in a manner that recognizes both the immediate and long-term needs of the Navajo Nation, specifically for capital improvement projects and utilities.

Chapters are required to submit proposals to the Office of the Controller, which is tasked with reviewing the budget request to ensure all information is correct and meets the federal guidelines within the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. If all requirements are met then funding may be awarded to the chapter through direct payment to the vendor(s).

Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise board of directors chair Quincy Nataysaid the enterprise continues to create jobs, stimulate economic activity, and provide a very attractive rate of return on investment to the Navajo Nation.

“With the support of the Office of the President and Vice President, the 23rd Navajo Nation Council, the Office of the Controller as well as the NNGE team, we are very pleased to provide this $10 million payment to the Gaming Distribution Fund. The NNGE Board and senior management remains committed to growing a Navajo Gaming economy while creating more jobs and making more payments to the fund in the future,” added Natay.

Council Delegate Tom Chee (Shiprock) who was also in attendance at the event, said the funds provide another avenue for the Nation’s 110 chapters to leverage for the benefit of projects that could benefit entire communities such as infrastructure development. He encourages chapter officials to take the initiative to submit the required documents to request funding from the gaming distribution fund.

“We want all of our communities throughout the Navajo Nation to benefit from the success of the Gaming Enterprise,” stated Delegate Chee. “Without the great work of the enterprise employees and the board members, we would not be at this level of performance. I am very grateful to the enterprise for their contribution to our people.”